CCA Bulletin 35/06

Ottawa, August 23, 2006

The Canadian Conference of the Arts announces its National Arts Awards winners for 2006

Just the facts

The Canadian Conference of the Arts (CCA) is pleased to announce Pat Durr and Bluma Appel as its National Arts Awards winners for 2006. The 2006 National Arts Awards ceremony will be hosted by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, the Honourable James K. Bartleman, at Queen's Park in Toronto on September 15, 2006.

The Diplôme d'honneur will be presented to arts activist, Bluma Appel, while the Keith Kelly Award for Cultural Leadership will be presented to one of Canada's long time arts advocates, Pat Durr.

Over the course of her career in the cultural sector that spans over 50 years, Bluma Appel has dedicated immeasurable hours and financial resources, not only to theatre but to opera, orchestras and artist-run coops. "The list of beneficiaries is probably longer and more extensive than we will ever know," writes Alberta G. Cefis, Chair of Opera Atelier. An Officer of the Order of Canada and recipient of the Order of Ontario, Bluma Appel has sat on the Boards of many cultural institutions over the years including the Ontario Crafts Council, the Canadian Opera Company, Opera Atelier, the Niagara Symphony, Telefilm Canada , the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Royal Ontario Museum , and the Kennedy Centre in Washington. Besides providing financial awards for the Dora Mavor Moore Awards and the Canadian Comedy Awards, she has established scholarships at the Royal Conservatory of Music. A recent recipient of an Honourary Doctorate from the University of Toronto, Dr. Appel continues to flourish in her many diverse causes.

Contributing over four decades to Canadian arts and culture, Pat Durr has been relentless and successful in securing the rights of artists in matters of copyright, taxation, as well as health and safety. An activist dedicated to both local and national affairs, Pat Durr has extensive experience tenaciously defending Canadian visual artists before federal and municipal governments. "Highly intelligent, persistent and analytical, she uses reason and strategy to step by step dismantle bureaucratic roadblocks," writes Jennifer Dickson, C.M.

Tell Me More.

Recipients of the Canadian Conference of the Arts National Arts Awards are selected by the CCA's Awards Committee, based on nominations received from CCA members.

The Diplôme d'honneur is presented annually in recognition of a sustained contribution to the cultural life of the country, whether through volunteer activity, mentoring, patronage, individual arts practice or other recognized support. More than 70 of the visionaries and creators of Canada's rich cultural identity, including Glenn Gould, Maureen Forrester, Oscar Peterson, Pierre Juneau and Roch Carrier have been recognized since the award's inception in 1954. The award is in the form of a silver talisman desig ned by the late West Coast craftsmith, Bill Reid.

The Keith Kelly Award for Cultural Leadership has been awarded annually since 1998, when it was established to recognize the leadership shown by the former National Director of the CCA during his tenure from 1989-98. It is presented to a Canadian who has made a significant contribution to the arts through advocacy work or the development of cultural policy, or who has otherwise demonstrated leadership in the field. The award is an inscribed medal designed by Ottawa medallic artist Susan Taylor.

Bluma Appell, 2006 recipient of the CCA Diplôme d'honneur

Perhaps the greatest monument to Bluma Appel's achievements is the theatre named in her honour. Reopened in 1983, the St. Lawrence Centre's main stage was dubbed the Bluma Appel Theatre recognizing the significant financial contribution that greatly facilitated the theatre's rebuilding.

Bluma Appel's dedication has been felt not only within the cultural sector but in matters of health as well. Along with her husband, Bram Appel, she has led a nutrition and art education program at an elementary school in North Bay, Ontario . She is Founder and Chair of the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CanFAR). She helped establish the Clinical Simulation Learning Centre (SINS Lab) at the Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto. The simulation learning centre will have the capacity to educate Nurses in post graduation training skills, i.e. infection control using the SARS room. The Infectious Disease Isolation Room, which is the only training facility of its kind in North America , bears her name.

Over time, Bluma Appel has repeatedly put her own credibility on the line to support what she believed in and has never committed to a cause or project half-way. Her passion radiates from everything she does and endlessly inspires those around her.

What people say about Bluma Appel:

"Canadian theatre would probably not exist in its relatively healthy state without the work that Bluma has given to it. A fair amount of money, yes. But thousands of volunteer hours and ideas have made the difference." - Joan Chalmers, arts advocate and volunteer

"She has been and still is particularly involved with theatres, museums, orchestras, opera companies, artists' cooperatives and film production. She is, without doubt, one of the most, if not the most generous person in Canada." - Jean-Louis Roux, C.C., C.Q., membre Société Royale du Canada

"Her spectrum of interest, influence and activity, includes the largest international organizations and the smallest of local organizations - opera, theatre, music, comedy - the list of beneficiaries is probably longer and more extensive than we will ever know."

"Bluma, while a philanthropist, brings much more than financial contributions to the causes she supports. She is a consummate networker, bringing together people and organizations." - Alberta G. Cefis, chair of Opera Atelier

"There is no one in this country that can boast the same contribution to the artistic, cultural, political, social or health sectors - let alone all of them!" - Martin Bragg, Artistic Producer CanStage

" The Grande Dame of Canadian Theatre " - Theatre News

Pat Durr, 2006 recipient of the CCA Keith Kelly Award for Cultural Leadership

Although Pat Durr has dedicated her life to supporting other artists, much of her advocacy work is informed by her own artistic practice as a painter and printmaker, a practice she regularly put on hold whenever she felt an advocacy issue needed attention. Despite her numerous obligations she has indeed succeeded in maintaining a vital art practice and continues to exhibit work nationally and internationally.

Early in her first of two terms as National Representative for Canadian Artists' Representation (1980-84, 2002-05), Patt Durr succeeded in moving CARFAC's national office to Ottawa. More recently, she has been Project Manager in a joint CARFAC/CAHSP effort to develop CARFAC services for indigenous and northern artist communities in the Yukon and Nunavut. During her tenure as a Board member of the CCA (1984-86), she chaired the Copyright and Tax Committees - the latter being instrumental in presenting the conference Taxation and the Arts. In 1995, she chaired a successful national committee of visual arts experts convened by the CCA that recommended alternatives that would allow the Canada Council's Art Bank to remain open. As the Vice-Chair of Health and Welfare Canada's ad-hoc Committee on Health Hazards in the Arts and Crafts (1982-86), Pat Durr has also been heavily active in ensuring safety in artists' studios. She organized both seminars and publications on health and safety which reached Artists in Canadian studios and universities. This material was subsequently disseminated in the USA and England.

What people say about Pat Durr:

"She has worked not only with intelligence and tenacity, but also with grace, humour and style" - Charlotte Wilson-Hammond, RCA

"I do not know of any other artist with as long and as fearless a track-record as Pat in advocacy for artists and the arts. Her generosity - her unfailing willingness to take on yet another campaign or cause or assignment - is absolutely remarkable.She has never lost touch with young and emerging talent and continues to give her best wherever and whenever asked to do so."- Jocelyn Harvey, Arts consultant

"She has contributed significantly to the evolution of cultural policy in Canada. Her continued diligence to increase awareness and support for the arts in Canada makes her a remarkable asset to the cultural community." - April Britski, National Director CARFAC

"She showed incredible generosity during her two terms as CARFAC National Representative, because she worked full-time (with no financial remuneration) and led CARFAC through some very challenging situations. During these years, she was not able to devote herself to her own creative practice as an artist. In a milieu which is often egotistical, her generosity of spirit and unselfishness are incredible" - Jennifer Dickson, C.M., R.A.